Tour the farms of the Whiteface Region
Tucked in the valleys hugging Whiteface Mountain, you’ll find a little slice of farm life this fall. Well, several slices actually! Even though the Whiteface Region is renowned for its premier skiing and outdoor adventuring, it's also home to a collection of dedicated farmers who bring a delicious burst of culture and flavor to the area. Cheese is no laughing matter here, where you’ll find house-made blends aged to perfection, yogurts, ethically-raised meats, and of course, goodies crafted from all that hard labor!
Combine your leaf peeping with farm peeping, spending your days on pastures filled with color and life, and cozy nights spent at restaurants that depend on local producers for their favorite ingredients. Discover how you’ll take on a farm-filled adventure this fall.
Farmstays
Blue Pepper Farm and Yurt
Situated on a 156-acre working sheep dairy farm with stunning mountain views, a private swimming pool, and close proximity to High Peaks hiking trails, a farmstay at Blue Pepper Farm has it all. Guests will enjoy a staggering mountain panorama from the porch, deck, or pool overlooking the lush pastures where sheep and laying hens graze. When dinner comes around, harvest your favorite ingredients straight from the garden to accompany fresh, organically raised lamb, pork, and eggs right from the farm.
Where you’ll stay
During your stay, you have two options for lodging. The farmhouse is perfect for groups, with four bedrooms; one king, one queen, one full, and two twin beds with cribs available for little adventurers. Fully heated for the colder months, you can experience the property draped in snow.
Their 30' yurt sits at the top of a 25-acre pasture with phenomenal views of Whiteface and the Adirondack mountains. Tucked into nature, you’ll enjoy cooking and dining in the outdoor kitchen next to the yurt, and showering al fresco in the newly-built outdoor shower. A composting outhouse is nearby for your convenience. It offers plenty of space for 2-6 people and is available from September through early June.
Sugar House Creamery
Milk and cheese is Sugar House Creamery's specialty, harvested from twelve cows residing on 23 acres of steep, hillside pasture, with the company of a one-eyed barn cat named William. A big Dutch Gambrel barn lies at the center, with stunning views of Ebenezer Mountain in the background. Before you tuck into your quarters, you’ll want to check out their stock! Just a short walk away is where you’ll find their farm store, filled with their own cheese, meat, and raw milk alongside goods from neighboring farms and artisans. The Creamery cultivates three cheeses that are a must-try, including their Dutch Knuckle, Poundcake, and Little Dickens.
Where you’ll stay
Surrounded by rolling pastures with the foliage as a backdrop, you’ll wake up in the center of it all in their butter yellow farmhouse. The dutch-inspired interior will transport you to a simpler way of life, where you can chef up with your freshly-harvested ingredients in the brightly-lit kitchen.
The Carriage Barn
Staying on-pasture, the Carriage Barn has been completely renovated for guests to enjoy loft-style comforts. Sit on the deck and watch the cows slowly amble through the mountain pastures, or step inside and cozy up by the fireplace and put on a record. The Carriage Barn is small but mighty, sleeping two guests.
Sugar House Retreats
The farm's sister location, Sugar House Retreats is the lovable farmhouse-next-door, situated across the street from a swimming hole on the Ausable River. Fuel up at the coffee bar and head out for a day of fishing, swimming, biking or hiking, all just steps from the property. When day turns to night, unwind in the hot tub or by the fire. This contemporary farmhouse has a fully-equipped kitchen, outside hot tub and a large game room with ping pong, billiards, poker table, and a Smart TV.
Farms to visit
Drive by Moon Valley Farm
Home to the most adorable Highland cows in Upstate New York, Moon Valley Farm is a must-see. While you can’t exactly tour the grounds, just seeing the farm surrounded by foliage is a sight in itself. If you’re lucky, you’ll see their resident cows grazing in the pasture, making for postcard-worthy pics.
Little Farmhouse Flowers
The Whiteface Region’s authority on all things blooming is none other than Little Farmhouse Flowers. While you may have spotted them at farmers markets across the Adirondacks this summer, you can visit their farm in Jay for fresh-cut flowers and a day spent perusing their beautiful stock.
Farm fresh flavors
Your tour of the season’s harvest wouldn’t be complete without pit stops to the restaurants of the Whiteface Region, of course! These main stays not only deliver on ambiance and stellar views from your table, they also partner with local farms to fill their menus.
Ice Jam Inn & Restaurant
The Ice Jam Inn & Restaurant in Upper Jay blends classic Adirondack living and creative cuisine. Their farmhouse is home to both lodging and a restaurant on the first floor, serving Adirondack favorites with a worldly twist. Think Belgian style mussels, fried chicken sandwiches on pretzel buns, and their burrata ravioli. The dining room offers a cozy corner to tuck in and relax from the crisp fall weather outside, or you can take a break on their open-air porch for views of the foliage. Like most farm-to-table restaurants, their local offerings are seasonal, so just ask about what's on the menu from our farms!
Cadence Lodge Restaurant
For a retro stay and dining experience, the Cadence Lodge Restaurant will transport you to Whiteface Region vacations of old. Housed in a classic 1950’s motor lodge, the lodge is perfectly situated for après-anything this fall. Their menu aims to please all-inclusive diets, offering vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menus. But if you’re more of a carnivore, thick pork chops, hanger steaks, and crispy, roasted chicken are on the horizon.
Hungry Trout Restaurant
For a candle-lit dinner with lighted waterfalls, incredible views of the surrounding mountains, and private access to the Ausable River, Hungry Trout Restaurant has garnered quite the reputation in the region as a premier Adirondack dining experience. With their commitment to a regional-inspired menu, it only makes sense to harvest from local farms to create authentic dishes. Fresh trout has its own featured section on the menu (the fish is abundant in the Adirondacks) but you can also find mouthwatering entrees like the sun dried tomato alfredo, steak frites, or the 46er ribeye. Pair with their extensive wine menu, and you’re tucked in for the perfect night out.
Summit & Spice Restaurant at NewVida Preserve
On Friday and Saturday nights, head to the Summit & Spice Restaurant at the NewVida Preserve. Once the historic Pale Face Ski Mountain Resort, the property has been reworked into a sprawling lodge, with a gorgeous A-frame at its center. Settle into your table in the Great Room with floor to ceiling views of the surrounding mountains. Their menu is globally-inspired, however constantly changes based on what’s in season from local growers. Try their NewVida Seasonal House Salad, Caprese Flatbread, or the Pan-Seared Fragrant Faroe Island Salmon.
Cocktails & Billiards Lounge
Before you leave the preserve, don’t forget to stop into the Cocktails & Billiards Lounge. Sit fireside in one of their cozy booths and enjoy creative cocktails along with a wide selection of local beer and wine and a delicious small plates or tapas menu.
Come for the farms, stay for our fall events!
Oktoberfest at Whiteface Mountain
You don’t have to own a pair of lederhosen to get in on Oktoberfest here (though it is smiled upon). Get your groove on with the oompah band and enjoy a tall mug of German beer at the Whiteface Mountain Oktoberfest. The weekend-long, Bavarian-style celebration with authentic music, dancing, food, and beer typically takes place the last weekend in September. We’re not the only ones who think it's a good time either! SKI Magazine rated the event “one of the 5 Must-Visit Oktoberfests in North America.” The 2025 celebration will feature music by headliners die Schlauberger in the Main Entertainment Tent, The Adlers, Schachtelgebirger Musikanten (Scha-Musi) in the Cloudspin Bar & Grill, the 3 Alphorns, and the Alpenland Taenzer dancers.
2025 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series Downhill World Cup
Over three days, the world’s top male and female mountain bikers will compete in two action-packed World Cup races against a backdrop of stunning Adirondack fall scenery. Mt Van Hoevenberg will host UCI Cross-Country World Cup races, while Whiteface Mountain welcomes for the first time the UCI Downhill World Cup. Spend your days between the Whiteface Region and Lake Placid, and get the most out of your next fall adventure.
Flaming Leaves Festival
On October 11-12, 2025, the Flaming Leaves Festival returns to nearby Lake Placid. This year’s festival will feature live music, crafts, food and drinks, vendors, and more, making it a great weekend for the whole family. While you’re busy having fun down below, look up to the two towering ski jumps for the US Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined National Championships! You’ll be dancing to live music as the top ski jumpers in the country soar overhead, framed by the stunning backdrop of peak foliage. The nordic combined portion of the event will take place on the roller loop at Mt Van Hoevenberg.
No one does fall like our farms
The pastures are prepped and the harvest is in, all that’s missing is you! Farm touring is just one of the many joys of visiting the Whiteface Region in fall, especially with a packed events schedule and beautiful scenery just moments away. When you’re not petting the cows or stocking up on cheese, wander on into our towns for more foliage-filled adventures.
